"The Partner" headed for the big screen

Screenwriter Ann Peacock (The Chronicles of Narnia, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, Nights in Rodanthe) has been hired to write the movie adaptation of John Grisham’s 1997 novel “The Partner”.

The project, from Oscar-winning producer Bob Chartoff (Rocky) and newcomer Velocity Management, centers on a disillusioned lawyer who steals $90 million from his law firm, stages his own death and successfully disappears for several years. What at first seems to be a brilliant white-collar crime is further complicated by a murder charge.

Chartoff and Lynn Hendee will produce for Chartoff Prods., while Grant Turck and Mark Bethea will produce for Velocity. Pernille Trojgaard of Buttercookie Prods. put together the initial financing and will executive produce.

Other Grisham novels to be turned into feature films include “The Firm”, “The Client”, “A Time To Kill”, “The Rainmaker” and “Runaway Jury”.

I first read “The Rainmaker” in 1996, my first JG novel and quickly discovered why his novels had been dubbed “literary crack.” I read a variety of literature, non-fiction primarily, and look forward to reading a cerebral page-turner once or more a year. John Grisham’s novels have always provided me that opportunity. After having read fourteen to date, “The Partner” is by far and away my favorite (spurring in addition an avid interest in Brazil). I’ve always wondered why a screenplay and film did not follow. The story and lead role will probably propel at least one or two actors’ respective careers. My hope is that creative people can work as a cohesive group to successfully bring this story to the screen.